Clinton: NOT running for presidency

Clinton: "I'm not running for president"


Announced and confirmed today, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that she will not be running for president in the upcoming 2012 elections. Clinton stated that, "I am not in any way interested in or pursuing anything in elected office." She made this statement to FOX News this Sunday. When she was asked, she laughed at the growing speculation of this growing claim.

"I love what I'm doing," Clinton said. "I can't tell you what it's like… to every day get to represent the United States. Through interpretation of this statement she seems happy with her current governmental position and isn't looking for a move upwards in the political realm. Still many believe that they believe that she will challenge Obama in the next elections even though she continues to stand by many of his political polices.

In other news, Clinton also made remarks regarding the TSA pat-downs as I later discussed in my blogs. She states that she would try to avoid the pat-downs along with the many other angry Americans but she says it adds a great deal of needed protection against a evil ready to strike.

Marines will comply with 'don't ask, don' tell'

Marines will comply with new repeal of 'Don't ask don't tell'


A recently released statement from the head of the Marines and other armed forces divisions stated that the U.S. Marine Corps will "fully cooperate with the new repeal." This repeal comes after it was recently sent through the Circuit Courts and was then over-turned by the Supreme Court. Now all gays and lesbians who "came out" in that time frame when it was said that they wouldn't be barred from the military if they admitted they were gay will not be penalized for doing so now that the policy is back in place.

Mullen stated that in no way will any of the gays or lesbians who openly admitted to being so will be punished. Although it was recommended that if any other gay or lesbians were serving in the military and were gay or lesbians should remain silent about their sexuality until the law moves forward into a more mature stage when the Supreme Court will make determinations about the law again.

TSA will continue pat-downs

TSA claims pat-downs still necessary and will continue


A federal TSA official stated Sundays that the enhanced airport pat-downs will continue as an extra procedure of caution as the busy holiday months approach. He said security measures will be beefed up and that the measures in place will stay in place.

Many travelers are opposed to the new measures because they feel a violation of privacy is being crossed. John Pistole, the administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, said he understood public discomfort over having a stranger touch them, especially when it came to the breasts, butt and genitals. Although these measures are all in place in trying to find possible hidden explosives. Any traveler who sets off a metal detector must go through the pat-down to get onto the plane.

U.S. sends tanks into Afghanistan

U.S. combatting Taliban with heavier force


The U.S. military is amping up firepower in its nine year fight against terror as they deploy new heavily armored tanks into the fight to eliminate a growing Taliban and al-Quada resistance. This news comes on Friday from a military spokesperson. The U.S. Marine Corps plans to use a company of M1A1 Abrams tanks to combat the growing resistance.

These new tanks will be primarily deployed to the Helmand province in early spring. U.S. forces used the tanks to battle insurgents successfully in Iraq's Anbar province, Chapin said and they plan to see similar successful results in Helmand and other surrounding providences.

This decision comes in light of the NATO agenda which has the Afghan war at the top of its list for discussion and improvement of military tactics in the war on terror.

Palin saying she'll Win...?

Palin says she could win.


In recent statements made by Sarah Palin, she claims that she could see herself being a major contender for Obama in 2012 for the upcoming elections. Palin states, "contrary to the opinions of many Beltway Republicans, I can beat President Obama in a 2012 matchup."

Although recent CNN polls show a steeper climb needed by Palin that other contenders in the Republican race. She hopes that her new reality TV show will help in portraying her image to the public in a more favorable form. It will be hard for her to turn her image around with around 50% of the nation having a negative opinion of her and the label as being the loss for McCain in the last presidential election. In that same poll former presidential candidate Mitt Romney was leading Obama by 45% percent, Mike Huckabee, another former presidential candidate, lead Obama by 50%, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was behind Obama with 47%.

Bush and a shifting Public Opinion

Publics view and opinion shifting for Bush


In recent polls public opinion and approval have shown a rising approval for the president. Public views on his political outlook have also had more approval. Although a recent poll did show that 4 in 10 Americans believed he was a poor president and a third thought he was average.

In 2009 after his last presidency one in five said he was a great president, if not one of the greatest. That number is now up 28% from the beginning of January. This survey's release comes a day after the former president was interviewed by Candy Crowley of CNN in a special edition of State of the Union. This poll consisted of 1,014 adult Americans questioned by telephone with a standard deviation of 3%.

Deliberations to resume for Bombing Trial

NYC terror suspect trial resuming this Monday
The jury is expected to resume their deliberations on the case of a man accused of bombing the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani is the prime suspect in the bombing that killed 224 people, including 12 Americans and wounding thousands. Ghailani's attorney claims that he was used by al Qaeda and forced him to commit the violent acts. The government rejected the claim that Ghailani was duped into participating with the bombings and rejected the claim that al Qaeda forced him to do the acts. On November 8, the prosecutors made their closing arguements against the defendant towards the jury stating that Ghailani had committed mass murder and played an important role in securing the trucks that brought the bombs into the embassies.

The trial which began in October is now beginning to pick up a faster than expected pace. Jurors hae listened to weeks of testimony from many witnesses who were flown in from Kenya and Tanzania to testify. They also viewed governement exhibits that displayed the attacks brutiality. The defense called no witnesses and the defendant did not take the stand once in the trial.

Democrats aiming to gain Moderate supporters

Democrats must regain Moderate support in Senate

After facing a tough fight for the last two years in the House and Senate, Democrats are now looking to gain the much needed support from Moderates elected into the House and Senate after Tuesday's election. After losing the house completely the Dems only have the Senate now to fall back on. Now with the many of the Dems out of power and a shrinking feeling of remorse for the new Dems in power, the bills they were wishing to pass will face a tough time in the house while trying to pass them through congress. So far,  a total of about 60 House seats, six Senate seats and nine governor positions are into the Republican hands.

With so much power moving right, (to the Repubs) the Democrats need to persuade the Moderates to lean more left towards the needs and wants the democrats want to see pass through Congress. A large percentage of Moderates and Independents are still "up for grabs" both parties are trying to obtain.